Although the anti-obesity drug Xenical
(Orlistat) is only supposed to be prescribed when a person fails to lose
weight on a weight loss diet and exercise plan, prescriptions in the U.K.
have increased some 300 percent from 1999 when the drug first appeared
on the market. The weight loss drug works by blocking the absorption of
fat in the gut and should be taken as part of a low-fat diet.

In the U.K., the prevalence of obesity
is increasing in both adults and children. Some attribute the increase
in Xenical prescriptions to its widespread acceptance among the medical
community.